The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Monday morning. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5600 and 6370. Purcell also said that grading would be done and rock would be hauled to Dent County Road 6633 and brush would be cut on Dent County Road 5380. Gary Larson, District 2 Commissioner, reported that the District 2 crew would be catching up on maintenance work. He said that breaks would be replaced on truck 114, new signs would be put up on various roads throughout the district and a new blade would be put on grader 25. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he and the other Commissioners would be attending a South Central County Commissioners Association Meeting tomorrow in Houston. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that she would be attending an insurance consortium meeting tomorrow in Springfield. The Commission also discussed possible dates for an evening meeting in April. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department released their reports involving a theft from a vehicle, a domestic dispute, a fight, and traffic stop. On Friday, March 20th at 11:00 am an officer was detailed to the 200 block of South Warfel in reference to a theft from a vehicle. According to the report between 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. 4 CD’s, perfume and a necklace was stolen from a vehicle. At 6:00 pm that evening, an officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Roosevelt in reference to a domestic dispute. The report led to the arrest of a 42-year old Salem man. He was incarcerated on the charge. Then at 9:30 pm that night, an officer went to the 1100 block of East Highway 32 in reference to a fight. The report led to the arrest of a 20-year old Salem woman on a charge of stalking. She was issued a summons to appear in court and was released on the summons. On Saturday, March 21st at 11:30 pm an officer attempted to stop a vehicle on a speeding violation. The suspect vehicle fled north on Highway 72 toward Rolla. A pursuit ensued into Phelps County where a Phelps County Deputy deployed road spikes and the vehicle was disabled. Taken into custody was a 26-year old Rolla man on felony DWI, felony resisting arrest and numerous traffic violations. He was incarcerated pending the issuance of warrants. Assisting in the arrest was the Dent County Sheriff Department, the Phelps County Sheriff Department and Rolla Police Department. Anyone with information on the items stolen from the vehicle, which is still under investigation, is asked to contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.

A Phelps County woman was indicted on federal identity and mail theft charges, United States Attorney Catherine Hanaway and Phelps County Sheriff Rick Lisenbe announced. The indictment alleges that on September 10, 2008, 23-year old Deanna Wisdom used the name and account number of another individual in order to commit bank fraud and credit card fraud. She was also found in possession of mail that had been stolen from a mail route. Wisdom was indicted by a federal grand jury on one felony count of aggravated identity theft, one felony count of identity theft and one felony count of mail theft. If convicted, aggravated identity theft carries a penalty of two years prison consecutive to any other prison sentence; identity theft carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; and theft of United States mail carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Hanaway commended the work on the case by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, the Rolla Police Department, the Postal Inspection Service; and Assistant United States Attorney Tracy Berry.

School will be dismissed early on Friday, March 27th due to a Teacher In-service. William Lynch will dismiss at 11:15 am, Salem R-80 Upper Elementary will dismiss at 11:20 am, Salem R-80 Junior and Senior High Schools will dismiss at 11:30 am and the rural schools, Oak Hill R-I, Green Forest R-II, Dent-Phelps R-III and Northwood R-IV will all dismiss at 11:45 am.

The Cardinal pocket schedules have arrived and are available around town and at the KSMO Radio Station lobby.

Grant Gordon started out the 2009 season with a one-hit gem as the Salem Tigers spanked the Houston Tigers in a five-inning game in the SCA pre-season tournament, 14-0. Gordon struck out nine and walked no one in getting the shutout. Offensively, Salem was led by C.J. Smith who went 3-3, drove in three runs and scored four times; Brandon Plank who was 2-3 with an RBI scoring three times, and Louis Carroll who went 2-4 with two RBI. Salem will play again Thursday afternoon at 2:00.

The Salem Golf Team will be at Willow Springs today starting at 4:00, weather permitting.

Yadier Molina went 2-for-3 with a double and a run batted in, as the St. Louis Cardinals topped the Washington Nationals, 6-3, in Grapefruit League play. Chris Carpenter allowed two unearned runs on three hits in a five-inning start for the Cardinals, while walking none and striking out six. P.J. Walters threw three shutout innings of relief and picked up the win. Brendan Ryan, Rick Ankiel and Chris Duncan each collected two hits for St. Louis, while Skip Schumaker drove in a pair of runs.

St. Louis Cardinals did reassigned pitcher P.J. Walters to minor league camp.

The St. Louis Cardinals have sent pitcher Luke Gregerson to the San Diego Padres as the player to be named later to complete the December 2008 trade for shortstop Khalil Greene. San Diego had previously acquired pitcher Mark Worrell and a player to be named later for Greene.

Chase Headley went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer, highlighting a five-run ninth inning, as the Padres edged the Royals, 9-7, in spring training action. Mark Teahen went 3-for-4 with three RBI and Willie Bloomquist ended 2-for-4 with a pair of runs driven in for Kansas City. Mitch Maier also drove in a run in the setback. Kyle Davies started and went 5 1/3 frames while giving up a run on two hits, and also drove in a run to help his own cause. Doug Waechter took the loss after giving up four runs on three hits while recording only two outs in the ninth.

The St. Louis Blues will host the Los Angeles Kings tonight starting at 7:30. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio.

Funeral service for Len Bond of Leasburg, formerly of Steelville, age 81, will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 today. Interment will be in the Meramec Hills Cemetery in Cuba.

Graveside services for Frank Carlis Heath of Bixby, age 52, will be held Thursday at 9:00 am at the Pump-Stricklin Cemetery in Iron County. Vistation will be Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Viburnum. Memorials may be made to the Heath Family for funeral expenses.

Funeral services for Herman Woodrow Gibbs of Salem, age 96, will be held Thursday at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the North Lawn Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Salem Full Gospel Church.

Visitation for Grace L. Hilderbrand of Salem, age 92, will be held Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. There will be no funeral services. Memorials may be made to the Salem Senior Center and the Greeley Cemetery.

Funeral services for Wava N. Haas of Salem, age 81, will be held Saturday at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Carty Cemetery in Salem.

Memorial services for Kay Reitz of St. James, age 85, will be held Saturday at 11:00 am at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. James. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 until service time. Interment will be at a later date. All arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr mortuary in St. James.

Memorial services for Delphia “Reita” Price of St. James, age 78, will be held Saturday at 2:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Visitation will be from noon until service time. Interment will be in the Fort Leonard Wood Military Cemetery, at a later date.

Today..Mostly cloudy and windy with near a 100% chance for showers and thunderstorms, high near 70 with temperatures falling into the 50’s this afternoon.
Tonight..Partly cloudy and breezy with a 30% chance for thunderstorms, low of 38.
Wednesday and Wednesday night.. Partly cloudy, high around 60, low of 42.